Jess Regel An agent with Helm Literary Agency (see other agents at this agency). About Hi! I’m Jess. I started Helm Literary with the goal of helping writers take control of their careers. I believe my job as a literary agent is to help writers steer that ship (couldn’t resist at least one sea-faring pun!) First and foremost, I work to make sure my writers are compensated for their incredible work, but I’m also their guide to navigating the industry as a whole. No nonsense, no smoke and mirrors. Just the pure magic of publishing books.What’s my story? As a flashlight under the covers, tripping over curbs while read-walking, never leave home without a book, lifetime reader, I thought I’d found my dream job when I started working at my local library in Iowa. Then one day, I stumbled upon the inciting incident of my professional life: I shelved The Writer’s Digest’s Guide to Literary Agents.The summer of 2002, I moved to New York City to intern at the Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency. Over the next decade, I worked my way through each department: royalties, contracts, audio, foreign, film, and domestic. I also began taking on my own clients (most of whom I still represent to this day.) In 2013, I moved to Foundry Literary + Media where I continued to grow my list of award winning, bestselling writers. (And truly just wonderful people.)Today, Helm is a full-service literary agency, representing fiction, nonfiction, and children’s book authors. I've hired a team of industry veterans to support me in my back office and in my subsidiary rights department, that way I can focus on selling books. Because the truth is, nearly two decades into my career, I still get giddy every time I call an author with an offer from a publisher.Dream job! This agent may not respond to all queries. After waiting 30 days, assume your submission will not be accepted. Country United States AI Policy Unknown AI policy Collapse section Fiction Open In adult, young adult and children’s fiction, I’m looking for books that are compulsive, contagious, and creative. I’m particularly interested in “conversation starters,” books that bridge the literary-commercial divide, combining a high-concept with beautiful writing, and voice-driven contemporary stories. I’m always looking for characters who tell a story from a unique perspective, and through which we see the world differently.I’m drawn to ambitious projects, coming-of-age stories, charming and stylized love stories, atmospheric magical realism, dark and twisty suspense, and genre-bending fiction.Audience:Open to a broad Audience, including: Adults, Young adults.Genres: Open to all/most Genres, including: General Open to all/most SubgenresLengths: NovelStyles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary, Mainstream.Topics: Open to all/most Topics.Submissions:Method: Email. Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed. Collapse section Nonfiction Open I do very little nonfiction but when I do it tends to be feminist. In adult, young adult, and children’s nonfiction, I specialize in memoir, with an emphasis on female voices, humor, and journalism. I love nonfiction that combines memoir and cultural criticism, journalism and storytelling, any type of hidden history, and memoirs about kids doing incredible things.Audience:Open to a broad Audience, including: Adults, Middle grades, Young adults, All genders, Females.Lengths: BookStyles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Humorous, Literary, Mainstream, Personal.Topics: Open to all/most Topics including... Memoir. Sexuality/Gender: Women/Female issues. Society/Culture: Pop culture.Submissions:Method: Email. Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed. Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary. Go to agent's webpage Report: Submission/Query Correction/Update New Cover ArtSocial:X (Twitter) @jessregelInstagram @helmliterary For the Agent: Request Interview Duosuma Submission Manager Link to Duotrope Agent Impersonation Scams are becoming commonplace.A legitimate agent will not contact you and request money to represent you. Never pay an agent an up-front fee. That is not how literary agent representation works. Agents earn a commission only after they've landed a publishing deal for you. Also, agents scarcely ever contact writers. If an agent that you haven't queried contacts you about representation, be suspicious. Look up the agent and check if the email address is correct for that agent/agency. Jess Regel Submission Statistics The statistics in this section are compiled from submission reports sent to us through our submission tracker. They are not provided by the agency or by Duotrope's admins. Information in this section is updated a few times per day. Learn more about the statistics. Filter: Category: All Categories Fiction Nonfiction Group by submission Include other agents at the same agency Accuracy We have received 2 reports from 2 different members within the past 12 months. The more responses reported, the more accurate the information. Other Information The agent will try to make a decision within 30 days. (100.0 % of the responses reported to us for this listing have taken longer than 30 days.) This agent may not respond to all queries. After waiting the time indicated above, assume your submission will not be accepted. Date compiled: 15 Sep 2026 09:22 UTC (35 minutes ago). Work submitted to this agent was also submitted to...This section is available to subscribers only. Sign up and start your free trial today!Members accepted by this agent also had work accepted by...This section is available to subscribers only. Become a member and start your free trial today! Your Submissions This section is available to subscribers only. Join today! Other Agents at this AgencyClaire HarrisNour Sallam Before SubmittingWe cannot guarantee that the information on this page is correct. We do our best to keep up, but it isn't always possible. Duotrope listings do not imply endorsement or recommendation of the agent or agency being listed. Before submitting, you should use your own judgment to determine whether the agent/agency meets your standards.Always read the full guidelines provided by the agency/agent.Unless the agency's guidelines state otherwise, always use industry standard manuscript formatting.For agency submissions, it is standard to submit a query letter and sample instead of the full manuscript. Do this unless otherwise instructed.Be professional, patient, and persistent. DatesLast Updated: 08 Jul 2026We check their guidelines for changes every four weeks, and we audit the listing twice a year. 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